Nantucket for Families

We were lucky enough to travel to Nantucket for a few days to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Here is our list of things to do in Nantucket for families!

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Getting to Nantucket

One of the great things about Nantucket is it’s exclusivity. You can’t drive there. The only way to get there is via plane or ferry. Since we were living in Boston at the time we opted for a ferry out of Hyannis, MA. We prefer the high speed ferry. It does require extra time as you have to park in the ferry lot and be shuttled to the dock. They recommend arriving about 45 minutes prior to departure.

There are a few snack and drink options at the ferry terminal and at the bar on board the boat. However, I recommend stopping for coffee, bringing snacks, etc. as the options can be limited.

I am pretty safety conscious, especially as a first time mom. My research indicated that ferries provided lifejackets for children over 35 pounds. Since JL was only a little over 8 weeks old at the time, he was too small for the provided lifejackets. So, I ordered one that fit him. This was probably overkill but since we had a boat cruise planned, I wanted to make sure he had the appropriate sized lifejacket.

We brought our stroller on board the ferry and the crew just asked that we use one of the middle seats. We brought his car seat and used the stroller attachment so we could pop the car seat off the stroller once we got to our seats. This way he was not bumped while sleeping by people walking down the aisles of the ferry. Obviously, this is not an option if the ferry is full. In my experience it rarely ever is completely packed but it can be on peak days and times.

Check out my trips for a road trip with an infant!

Transportation on Nantucket

We were fortunate that our friends had rented a car and were able to pick us up from the ferry terminal with our luggage. On previous trips, I have just stayed close to town and walked everywhere. Taxis are available but can be limited. So if you are staying for several days and really want to explore the island, I recommend renting a car.

Sunset Cruise of Nantucket

The highlight of the trip was the sunset cruise around the harbor. There are a number of different companies but we did ACK Sail. We really enjoyed it. The views were beautiful, the captain was knowledgable and it was slow moving so I definitely felt safe with JL on board.

We were able to bring food and drinks on board. Since it is a sunset cruise, you’ll either need to plan for an early or late dinner.

They did have an infant lifejacket available for JL but I had already brought my own 🙂

I did wear a wrap carrier to hold JL so I could have free hands if I wanted. We also had him wear his sun hat to protect him before sunset. I definitely recommend bringing layers as it can get chilly when the sun goes down.

Cisco Brewers

Cisco Brewers is a fun spot as it is so much more than just a brewery. There are a number of food and drink offerings a multiple stalls. There are a number of tables under tents so you get some sun protection while enjoying the beautiful Nantucket summer weather.

It is too far from downtown to walk so it is only accessible via car or taxi. We brought JL in his stroller and parked him by the table.

Check Out the Shops

Nantucket is home to some great shopping. Set aside a few hours to stroll around downtown checking out the shops.

Beaches

Nantucket is home to some great beaches. There is actually a beach called children’s beach that is just an easy walk from town. Since we were not frequent beach goers when JL was this young, we did not buy any special sun shade for him at the beach. There are a number of options if you plan on going to the beach often with your little one. We opted to bring him in his car seat and place him under and umbrella to make sure he stayed out of the sun.

Eating while on Nantucket

We stayed in a rental home during this stay on Nantucket so we mostly ate food from the grocery store made at home. Also, we had the pleasure of enjoying the meal of a private chef from Boston who came to the island to cook for us. On previous trips, I’ve enjoyed dining at Something Natural which is a great sandwich shop with outdoor picnic tables that would be a great spot for dining with kids.

Nantucket for Families

Nantucket is such a special place with beautiful summer weather. It is definitely a family friendly destination for all.

BV,

Megan